{% include "includes/auth/janrain/signIn_traditional.html" with message='It looks like you are already verified. If you still have trouble signing in, you probably need a new confirmation link email.' %}

breaking news

Miami Dolphins QB Jay Cutler to get extended playing time vs. Eagles

Jay Cutler should get significant playing time Thursday. (Allen Eyestone/The Post)

PHILADELPHIA—Jay Cutler’s annual preseason routine usually includes an extended run in the third game, and that’s likely what the Dolphins will do with him against Thursday against the Eagles.

Cutler and coach Adam Gase will confer about the best plan for him after playing two series last week—the only game action he’s had since joining Miami. He’ll likely play the first half against Philadelphia, with a possibility of returning for the start of the third quarter.

“He’s the head guy, so he’ll make the final call,” Cutler said. “But we’ll talk about whether we go all the way to halftime or coming out in the third quarter. A lot of that will depend of kind of how we play offensively.

“I’ve always kind of played the same… Sometimes you come out in the third quarter (of the third game), sometimes not. Right now we’re kind of sticking to that game plan unless something drastic happens.”

Cutler also typically doesn’t play the fourth preseason game, though it will be interesting to see how the Dolphins handle that considering the lack of continuity with their offensive personnel. Cutler arrived two weeks ago and had zero history with any of Miami’s skill players. During his brief time with the team, Jay Ajayi, Julius Thomas and multiple offensive linemen have been out with injuries.

Notably, Cutler has yet to play with center Mike Pouncey. The team has been gradually upping Pouncey’s workload, and Gase is considering playing him. Pouncey did not take questions after this morning’s practice in Philadelphia, but hinted that he would play Thursday.

From Gase’s perspective, Cutler is nearly past the acclimation process after coming out of retirement to replace Ryan Tannehill. He’s solid on the playbook, but isn’t quite ready for the regular season when it comes to some of the more subtle aspects of his job. He completed 3 of 6 passes for 24 yards in his debut against Atlanta last week.

“It’s more of a feel of the pocket and getting back used to that again, and then a lot of it is alignment and his throws and his footwork and just kinda getting his mind right on all those things,” Gase said. “He’s done a really good job of trying to make adjustments here and there. When you see a ball not come out as clean as you’d like, he’ll make an adjustment to make sure that doesn’t happen again. Just getting back comfortable with what he does well.

“I’ve gotta make a couple changes with some of the things we were emphasizing with Ryan compared to him. Every day, that’s why it’s a great learning experience for us and today was another one. We saw a few different coverages, some different fronts, some different looks, some different pressures. Everything he can see—the more we can put him out there, the better.”

The team initially planned to ease Cutler into a full practice worth of throws, but that doesn’t seem to be an issue anymore. He said his arm hasn’t gotten sore and actually feels stronger than it normally does this time of year.

“It’s still fresh,” he said. “Whenever you go through the whole spring, you’re throwing, throwing, throwing, your body gets a little torqued, so right now I feel really balanced and fresh, which is probably a good thing.”

Cutler’s familiarity with his new receivers is growing, a bond he kicked off by taking them to dinner shortly after signing his $10 million contract. He connected with DeVante Parker on two sharp throws in the Falcons game, and showed good rhythm with Kenny Stills against the Eagles this morning.

When asked specifically how Parker and Jarvis Landry compared to former Bears receivers Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall, Cutler offered lofty praise for his new teammates.

“You look at Jarvis and just his physicality, the way he attacks the ball, getting in and out of things,” he said. “They both have really high I.Q.s like Al and B do and know where the ball is supposed to go. They know coverages, they know weaknesses in defenses. DeVante has a lot of Al’s catch radius, back-shoulder balls over the top. They’re kind of younger versions of those two guys.”

[…] Dolphins fans will get to see more of their new quarterback on Thursday as Cutler and head coach Adam Gase discussed the likelihood of Cutler playing the entire first half in their exhibition game against the Eagles. […]